Vancouver New Year's Eve 2014 Party Idea Floated

A Vancouver councillor wants the city to host a big New Year's Eve celebration for 2014 as other major cities do around the world.

NPA Coun. George Affleck will be putting forward the motion to be debated at a city council meeting next week, he said in a Wednesday news release.

"I live downtown and in recent years I have noticed that many people seem to want to congregate at Robson and Granville looking for something to happen at midnight on New Year’s Eve," said Affleck, in floating the idea of a party that's safe and fun for people of all ages.

He pointed out that if planning started now, corporate and media sponsorships could be found to offset the cost to taxpayers.

The City of Vancouver has hosted New Year’s Eve celebrations sporadically since the 1980s. For the past four years the provincial government has hosted a family-friendly event, which ends oddly before midnight, according to Affleck.

"The least we could do is have a countdown clock so that everyone is not staring at their watches, or phones or each other wondering – is it the new year yet?" said Affleck.

The celebration could help offset Vancouver's reputation as a "No Fun City."